Google Releases New Magazine Reader App for Chrome

Google's long term plans to become a content store took another stp forward today with the launch of a new magazine reading app for Chrome.This web browser and/or OS will now let you read magazines bought in Google Play. Supported features include a full screen mode, zoom, a table of contents, and not much more. No update is required.

This looks to be little more than another PDF-type viewer similar in function to Zinio only without much in the way of features. It seems to be about as capable as the Google Play magazines Android app and I have to wonder why anyone would want to use it.

This isn't just me not getting it; there actually are other apps which do a better job.

I might avoid magazines because they don't offer enough information packed into small enough containers, but that doesn't mean I don't understand them. Their goal is to entertain more than inform, Every little detail from the page layout to the size and placement of photos and even the behavior of the app needs to support that goal.

This goal of entertainment is why so many comics apps have a directed viewing mode now, and it is also why some magazine apps (B&N's, for example) add subtle tricks like a faux page turn. They are intended to add to the enjoyment of the reading experience.

The reading experience with Google's Magazine app is at best utilitarian in comparison. Maybe they will improve it over time, but right now there are better options.

Share this:

Check These Out!

Nate Hoffelder is the founder and editor of The Digital Reader:"I've been into reading ebooks since forever, but I only got my first ereader in July 2007. Everything quickly spiraled out of control from there. Before I started this blog in January 2010 I covered ebooks, ebook readers, and digital publishing for about 2 years as a part of MobileRead Forums. It's a great community, and being a member is a joy. But I thought I could make something out of how I covered the news for MobileRead, so I started this blog."